When was ontario place built

By Wendy Gillis Crime Reporter Sat., Jan. 12, 2019 A theatre showcasing the work of local playwrights. A giant organic vegetable garden. A series of art studios. A world-renowned research facility. The blue-sky ideas for Ontario Place abounded Saturday during a standing-room-only event at Metro Hall, where non-profit group Waterfront for All hosted a rally to share ideas for the park’s future and reflect on its unique importance to residents. Amid the positive tone and memories associated with the waterfront public space — first dates, open-air concerts, movies at the Cinesphere — was an acknowledgment that Ontario Place is “at a critical decision point,” as urban designer Ken Greenberg put it. “Let’s not underestimate the vulnerability of this particular moment,” he said, noting the recurring suggestion that the entire park needs a “big bang” revamp, rather than simply an improvement on … [Read more...] about Revitalize Ontario Place but don’t raze it, residents say at rally for waterfront park

By Jennifer Pagliaro City Hall Bureau Sat., Jan. 12, 2019 It was meant to be a place for the people. But Ontario Place was also conceived with a bit of hubris in mind. It also was built without building permits. The idea was first pitched by then Progressive Conservative premier John Robarts in August 1968 as a new exhibition space for the province — an expanded Canadian National Exhibition — in response to Expo 67, which had just concluded to great acclaim for Montreal, which was rivalling Toronto as a cultural jewel. Robarts, who was opening the Ex that day, the Star reported, called the province’s vision in part a “major new recreational complex for the use of the people of Ontario.” The project would see the CNE open longer; it would include water elements like those at Expo and replicate the success of Ontario’s pavilion at the recently concluded world fair, he said. It would reflect the same “mood of gaiety and … [Read more...] about From the beginning, Ontario Place was about the future

By Katie Daubs Feature Writer Sat., Jan. 12, 2019 The Vaccarellis like to unwind from a busy day with a good television show in the family room. They’ve been doing that for years, unaware that the creepy crawl space below the room was filled with archeological treasures from pioneer families who also lived on this same land. Those families had different options for relaxing, judging by the bits of smoking pipes and a mouth harp found in the soil. There have always been signs that their home in North Etobicoke had a story to tell. Vito and Teresa Vaccarelli bought the farmhouse in 2001, and since then, their three children have found old pieces of pottery and rusted coins in the garden. The front of the home, with its gingerbread detailing, faced west toward Mimico Creek. It was the ideal position when this was a lonely farm in the 1870s, but when the street began to fill in with bungalows in the 1950s, the house looked backwards. The outhouse was in the … [Read more...] about This Etobicoke home was hiding secrets in its basement. This family dug them up

By Francine Kopun City Hall Reporter Fri., Jan. 11, 2019 Nadine Spencer, president of the Black Business and Professional Association, remembers attending a reggae concert at Ontario Place when she was a teenager recently arrived from Jamaica, and the way it brought people together. “I came to Canada in 1979, when I was 12. And I remember going to Ontario Place with my family as a new immigrant, and seeing Peter Tosh play. “It wasn’t just Jamaicans. Everyone was there … from all different races, and there we were, sitting on the grass, eating and dancing and just celebrating.” The memory of that day is with her still, at 50, and Spencer wants to see newcomers have the opportunity to enjoy the same kind of experience. “I think Ontario Place should be a space where people meet, where families meet and communities meet and we get to know each other and learn from each other — maybe this is just a part of the solution … [Read more...] about Readers have lots of ideas for Ontario Place redevelopment

By Shawn Micallef Star Columnist Fri., Nov. 23, 2018 There is a cove-like rocky beach on the south side of Ontario Place with a great view of Etobicoke’s new skyline. It’s just across the water from Hanlan’s Point Beach on Toronto Island and the water is deep and clean but there’s a sometimes-ignored “No Swimming” sign there. Imagine if that sign was gone and a swimming pier built here allowing people to sun themselves and dive into the water. Would that be world class? Probably not, but world class is what we might get here as last week the Ford government moved to dissolve the board and corporation that runs Ontario Place and transfer control directly to the provincial government. When Finance Minister Vic Fedeli was asked on CBC Metro Morning last week if a casino was possible he said “everything’s possible down there” and that his government was going to “look at every single possibility to … [Read more...] about Torontonians must guard Ontario Place against outdated, cookie-cutter ideas